AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A grand jury handed up 32 indictments for an alleged scheme to make illegal campaign contributions through a political action committee associated with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

DeLay, who was not charged, accused the prosecutor of using the investigation for political purposes.

"This has been a dragged-out 500-day investigation, and you do the political math. This is no different than other kinds of partisan attacks that have been leveled against me that are dropped after elections," the Texas Republican said.

A Travis County grand jury on Tuesday indicted three political operatives and eight companies, alleging campaign finance violations related to corporate money spent in the 2002 legislative races. The corporate donations were made to Texans for a Republican Majority, a political action committee created with help from DeLay.

DeLay was not questioned or subpoenaed as part of the grand jury investigation.

"Democracy depends on equality and equality cannot exist in an atmosphere that's like what the law of the jungle is like, the biggest, richest and meanest get to be in charge," said Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat.

The grand jury investigation began shortly after Republicans gained a majority in the Texas House for the first time since Reconstruction. The GOP later used its majority to redraw Texas' congressional districts to favor Republican candidates.

Texas law prohibits the use of corporate money for political activity.

Jim Ellis, 47, a former DeLay aide who heads Americans for a Republican Majority, DeLay's national fund-raising committee, was charged with money laundering. John Colyandro, 40, former executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, faces charges including money laundering and unlawful acceptance of corporate political contributions.

Warren RoBold, 48, a Washington consultant who helped raise money for both PACs, was accused of unlawful acceptance of corporate political contributions.

The eight companies were charged with making illegal political contributions. They include Sears, Roebuck and Co., the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, Bacardi USA and Westar Energy. Each company donated at least $20,000.

Colyandro and Ellis did not immediately return telephone calls Tuesday for comment. The Associated Press could not immediately locate RoBold; a message left for a Warren RoBold in the Washington area was not returned.

Sears spokesman Chris Brathwaite said the company was "surprised by the indictment because Sears' contribution to this PAC followed all applicable state and federal laws."

Also Tuesday, DeLay, the second-ranking House member, dismissed as frivolous a complaint filed with the House ethics committee that alleges he abused his office for political purposes.

Leaders of the House ethics committee said they soon plan to present to committee members information they've obtained on a three-part complaint filed by Rep. Chris Bell, D-Texas.

The 10-member committee, equally divided by party, could send the allegations to an investigative subcommittee, dismiss some allegations while ordering a probe of others or throw out the complaint.

"I think people see this for what it is, at least that's what I've seen," DeLay said.

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